19th Asian Financial Forum 2026 Concludes in Hong Kong with Focus on AI, Global Trust, and "Finance Empowering Business"

The 19th Asian Financial Forum (AFF) successfully brought together over 4,000 global leaders in Hong Kong from January 26–27, 2026. Under the theme "Co-Creating New Horizons Amid an Evolving Landscape," the summit emphasized the integration of finance with the real economy, highlighted by the inaugural Global Business Summit and a landmark cooperation agreement between the Hong Kong and Shanghai gold markets.

By: AXL Media

Published: Feb 16, 2026, 4:29 AM EST

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Fintech News Malaysia

A Global "Super-Connector" in a Multipolar World

The 19th Asian Financial Forum (AFF) served as a critical platform for international dialogue, attracting over 4,000 influential leaders from more than 60 countries and regions. Jointly organized by the Hong Kong SAR Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the forum reinforced Hong Kong's role as a "super-connector" between the Chinese Mainland and global markets. This year’s event took on added significance as the first major financial summit of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), emphasizing stability and cooperation amid geopolitical friction and trade realignments.

Finance Empowering the Real Economy

A major evolution in the forum's 2026 edition was the introduction of a new tagline: "Finance Empowering Business." This shift was manifested in the launch of the inaugural Global Business Summit, which focused on the practical integration of financial services with high-value industries like biomedicine, healthcare, green energy, and robotics. HKTDC Chairman Prof. Frederick Ma noted that the initiative aims to unlock the potential of the real economy by moving conversations beyond traditional financial topics toward the core of industrial innovation and economic growth.

Strategic Gold Market Integration

In a milestone for regional cooperation, the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau signed a landmark agreement with the Shanghai Gold Exchange. This partnership establishes a collaborative governance structure for Hong Kong’s new central gold clearing system and aims to deepen the synergy between the gold markets of Hong Kong and Shanghai. Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Christopher Hui, highlighted that this move strengthens Hong Kong's position as a world-class gold trading hub, especially as the strategic importance of gold rises amid international monetary system restructuring.